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WILLIAM S. RYEBSON, OF PHILADELPHIA. PENNSYLVANIA. Letters Patent No. 68,238, dated August 27, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN HOOP-SKIRTS.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY oononrm:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S RYERSON, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a, new and useful Improvement in Hoop or Skeleton-Skirtsfjand I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact, description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. v

The object of the present invention is to so connect the various tapes of the skirt to its waist-band or belt that theskirt can be lengthened or shortened, either at the front or the rear, or upon the side, according as may be desired, and in such a manner as to also produce a greater or lesser amount of trail to the skirt. In the accompanying plate of drawings my improvement in hoop or skeleton-skirts is illustrated, the figure being a side view of the upper portion or end of the skirt, showing my mode of attaching its several tapes to the waistbelt or band.

A, i'nthe drawings, represents the waist-band or belt of a hoop or skeleton-skirt, which bandis provided I with a buckle, B, for buckling its two ends together and about the waist of the person. 0, the several tapes to the skirt, in which tapes the springs D, forming the skirt, are secured, as in. ordinary hoop-skirts. These tapes G are secured to the waist-band A, and at corresponding points of the same buckles E are secured, through which the tapes pass, and are thus enabled .to be buckled therein with a greater or less amount of slack, as shown at F in the drawings, according as it is desired to shorten or lengthen out the skirt when on the person.

As the skirt can be lengthened or shortened through itstapes O and buckles E, it is plainly obvious that any desired amount of trail can be given thereto by simply lengthening the front side and shortening or raising up the rear; and that, furthermore, by my improved connection of the tapes with the waist-band or belt, fewer springs can be used in the manufacture of the skirts, and furthermore, in their manufacture many sizes of the frames can'be dispensed with--21; quite important advantage.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A hoop or skeleton-skirt, having its tapes secured to the waist-band or belt, in combination with buckles at such points of attachment through which the said tapes pass, substantially as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM S. BYERSON.

Witnesses:

WENDELL HUMMEL, W. H; Cleanse. 

